Dairy
Managing out blocks to ensure overall farm performance
Managing out blocks to ensure overall farm performance Growing and utilising high-quality, home-produced feed rather than depending on purchased in concentrates or bought in feed remains the most cost effective option for dairy farms. Over the last number of years, feed costs have increased by approximately 30% on farms. Fertiliser, contractor, spray […]
27 December 2023
Making informed decisions regarding farm stocking rate
Making informed decisions regarding farm stocking rate Following the Teagasc National Dairy Conference where attendees heard how pasture utilised was fundamental to our dairy systems, Teagasc Researcher Donal Patton joins James Dunne on the latest Dairy Edge podcast to explain how to make informed decisions regarding farm stocking rate. More episodes from […]
25 December 2023
DairyBeef 500 join forces with AHI’s CalfCare Programme for on-farm events in January 2024
DairyBeef 500 join forces with AHI’s CalfCare Programme for on-farm events in January 2024 A series of 18 on-farm calf care events for farmers will take place nationwide throughout the month of January. DairyBeef 500, a Teagasc campaign focussed on maximising the potential of beef production from the dairy herd, will link […]
21 December 2023
Teagasc Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management 2023 Graduation
Teagasc Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management 2023 Graduation The 2023 Graduates of the Teagasc/UCD Level 7 Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management course were presented with their diplomas at an awards ceremony at Teagasc Moorepark on Tuesday, 19th December. The awards were presented by Dr Anne-Marie Butler, Head of Education at […]
20 December 2023
Future-proofing the farm with solar panels
Future-proofing the farm with solar panels The Dolan family have installed a solar energy system to cut costs and enhance sustainability on their 400-cow dairy farm in Westmeath. John and Una Dolan, and their children Aoife, Shane and Cathal, are dairy farmers in Fardrum, Co. Westmeath close to Athlone. The family can […]
19 December 2023
Lessons on pasture utilisation and meal feeding to be learned from 2022
Lessons on pasture utilisation and meal feeding to be learned from 2022 2022 was an extraordinary year on Irish dairy farms. Although input price volatility overshadowed much of the year, dairy incomes still managed to hit record highs on the back of all-time high milk prices. With volatility now seemingly an ever-present […]
18 December 2023
Recuperation for yourself and your cows during the dry cow period
Recuperation for yourself and your cows during the dry cow period Although 2023 has been a long and challenging year on dairy farms, now is the right time to take back control and help get 2024 off to a good start, writes Tom Murphy, B&T Advisor at Teagasc Galway/Clare. Compact calving spring […]
17 December 2023
Feeding replacement heifer weanlings this winter
Feeding replacement heifer weanlings this winter The winter management of your replacement heifers is crucial to ensure they meet their target weights at breeding next spring, writes Stephen O’Callaghan, Walsh Scholar, Teagasc Navan. We want to ensure all heifers meet the planned pre-breeding targets, and to minimise liveweight variation within the group. […]
14 December 2023
Why the Irish dairy industry has the capacity for continued growth
Why the Irish dairy industry has the capacity for continued growth International dairy consultant, David Beca joins Emma-Louise Coffey for part two of his discussion on the Dairy Edge podcast to outline the global milk supply trends over the last two decades and he speculates on what milk-producing nations have the capacity […]
11 December 2023
Top five tips for December
Top five tips for December Joe Patton, Teagasc Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, gives his top five tips for dairy farmers this December. 1. Feed your best quality silage to weanling heifers Heifers need 73+ DMD plus 1kg of high-quality concentrate to meet growth targets. If silage is lower quality, 2kg+ concentrate […]
11 December 2023